Man jailed for four years for choking police officer
Maidenhead: Norden Farm may become ‘hall for hire’ part of the week due to core funding cuts
MAIDENHEAD: A man has been sentenced to four years and six months’ imprisonment for choking a police officer.
Ireneusz Wiater, age
35, of no fixed abode, choked a police officer in a headlock and attempted to gouge his eye in King Street on September 20 last year.
He was found guilty of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to a police officer by a unanimous jury on Thursday, March 4.
Wiater also pleaded guilty to actual bodily harm and assault on an emergency worker in relation to the same incident.
Investigating officer, Detective Constable Chris Jamieson, based at Maidenhead police station, said: “This was a serious assault on a police officer acting lawfully in their duties.
“The actions of choking the officer and gouging his eye left him with many painful injuries, including temporary blindness in his left eye.
“His biggest concern however was not the blindness, but that he would be unable to continue working in the job that he loves.
“This incident could have resulted in far more horrific outcomes, and demonstrates the risks police officers face in their daily roles.
“I’m grateful for this significant sentence. It shows that attacks on our officers will not be tolerated, and that criminals will be brought to justice.”
The chief executive of Norden Farm painted a bleak picture of what its future may hold if the arts venue cannot secure more core funding at a meeting on Monday.
The communities and overview and scrutiny panel were given a presentation by
Norden Farm over its 2019/2020 accounts and the work it had done since the pandemic began in March last year.
Despite 2019/2020 being an ‘absolute cracker of a year’ and the total income generating more than £600,000 for the first time, when the coronavirus crisis began it was forced to close its doors and the revenue was slashed.
John Seymour, chair of the finance committee at Norden Farm, told the meeting it managed to get a ‘life saving’ grant of £351,000 from the culture recovery fund.
However the venue is receiving far less from the Royal Borough in its 2021/22 budget –
£80,000 down from £141,000 last year.
An additional £50k package of support has been earmarked to be split between Norden Farm and the Old Court in Windsor to help the venues apply for grants which may require the council to match fund.
John said there remained ‘many uncertainties’ as the council’s core funding grant would end in 2022/2023.
He said: “How long will pandemic restrictions remain and will they reoccur? How will our markets be affected by the radical development of the town centre and the new
Baylis Theatre? How much success will there be in raising additional grants to replace our core funding from the borough?,” he added.
Catherine del Campo (Lib, Furze Platt) asked what differences residents would see if council funding continued to ‘trickle down to nothing’.
Chief executive and artistic director Jane Corry said: “If funding disappears completely Norden Farm will be a different place for sure. One immediate difference you’ll see is we will only be open to the public half the week.
“The time we are closed we will be trying to get new business in.”
She said the venue would become a ‘hall for hire’.
She said the council grant was so ‘incredible’ as it paid for core running costs but the team would do ‘everything we can’ to make sure the doors stay open so the site doesn’t become ‘another supermarket or block of flats’.
“It won’t be the kind of place that we’ve spent so long building, which is open all the time, open for everyone with lots of different activities that everyone can get involved in no matter what their income or background,” she added.
Martin Kaye, chairman of Norden Farm, ended on a plea, urging the council revisit core grant funding in the future but said he understood the budgetary constraints the council finds itself in.
Cllr David Hilton (Con,
Ascot and Sunninghill) cabinet member for finance, responded: “The hope is that Norden Farm and the Old
Court can find ways to turn that £50k into £100k or more. We have to leverage the funds, we have got to get more funding.
“You are not deserted and in Cllr [Samantha] Rayner (Con, Eton and Castle) you have got someone who is going to be fighting for you not only this year but in the years beyond.
“It’s a challenge, we have a challenge next year and we’re going to get through ours and I’m certain you will get through yours.”
Families were reunited on Monday and able to hold hands for the first time in months during an ‘emotional day’ at a Maidenhead care home.
The visits came after lockdown restrictions were eased nationally for care homes, meaning residents are allowed one designated indoor visitor – although they must have a rapid COVID-19 test beforehand and bring PPE (personal protective equipment).
Winston Court Residential Care Home in Winston Court, Maidenhead, offers personal and practical support to people with learning disabilities and saw two family reunions on Monday.
Peter, 86, visited his son Daniel James, 49, after more than three months apart.
Before COVID-19 restrictions, Daniel would regularly visit home and has missed being able to hug his dad Peter.
Peter said: “We’ve all been missing Daniel and this past year has been incredibly tough as we’ve not been able to give him a cuddle, have him round on the weekend or see him as much as we’re used to.
“The first lockdown was the hardest as we went a long time without seeing him in person. Facetime calls have helped but this is a steady step to bring back normality and speaking with Daniel we know he couldn’t contain his excitement to see me. And nor could I.”
Before the visit staff members at the Optalis-run site checked in visitors and offered lateral flow tests. They were allowed to enter once they had their negative result.
Diana Swaffield, 91, also visited her daughter Miriam, 67. Before now she had only been able to visit outside in a pop-up tent.
Diana said: “It’s been a long year so being able to regularly visit again is going to make a huge difference. The Optalis team have been fantastic at accommodating outdoor visits. We’re still someway off from being able to give each other a hug and a kiss but being able to hold her hand means we’re getting closer.”
Charlotte Sehmi, registered
manager at Winston Court, said: “Monday marked a really positive day as we reopened our doors safely once again.
“We’ve been able to keep residents in touch with families throughout the year, but nothing can replace that human contact and seeing
your loved one in person.
“Something as small as holding hands, which we took for granted a year ago, has been amazing for both the residents and families.
“Monday was an emotional day for all, and we are so pleased that finally loved ones can be reunited.”